Simu Liu believes his new animated film, “In Your Dreams,” is “important” for kids, and it’s not because of magical castles or fairy-tale endings. It’s because the film shows a “real family that argues.” The ‘Shang-Chi’ star was “fascinated” by the film’s honest approach to family conflict.
“The way that families are depicted… is this idea that families are always happy, always smiling. They never fight. And it’s just not true,” Liu stated. The actor, who voices the father, feels this new Netflix adventure-comedy provides a necessary “imagery of families that aren’t perfect.”
The film, directed by Pixar alum Alex Woo (“WALL·E”), follows Liu’s children in the story, Stevie (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) and Elliot (Elias Janssen). They embark on a quest to find The Sandman, hoping for a magical fix for their parents’ marital strife. The film is animated by Sony Pictures Imageworks.
The cast is rounded out by Cristin Milioti as the Mom and Craig Robinson as a stuffed animal, Baloney Tony. Milioti, a Grammy winner, performs a “really great” duet with Liu, a “beautiful moment” that shows the couple in harmony.
The film’s “important” message is delivered in its conclusion. Stevie, the young protagonist, learns that “there is no magic solution to real-life problems.” Her journey to accept the messy, imperfect reality of her family is the powerful, “important” story that Liu is so proud to be a part of.